The Boston Red Sox are planning what they’re calling a “low-key celebration” to mark the setting of a new league record for consecutive home sellouts.

The club is slated to sell out its 456th straight game at Fenway Park on Sept. 8. The streak began May 15, 2003, and will eclipse the 455 consecutive games sold out by the Cleveland Indians between 1995 and 2001, Street & Smith's SportsBusiness Journal reports in this week's edition.

Among the events scheduled in Boston’s developing plans are an on-field ceremony recognizing the four players who have been with the club during the entire streak (David Ortiz, Mike Timlin, Jason Varitek and Tim Wakefield), along with recognizing any staff or fans who have attended all 456 games. Other considerations include having players standing at the gates to welcome fans, and perhaps the creation of a list denoting 456 reasons the Red Sox are thankful for the streak.

“We need to be humble in our approach,” said Sam Kennedy, Red Sox executive vice president. “It’s a phenomenon, but it’s also extremely fragile. We remind ourselves every day how incredible this is, so we’ve decided we’re not going to go over the top on this.”

It’s a streak they might hold for a while, too. St. Louis had a 165-game streak end earlier this season. No team now has a streak of even 25 games.

After the Indians’ streak ended, team owner Larry Dolan said, “I believe it’s safe to say that this amazing feat of consecutive sellouts will never be matched. I hope our fans take great pride in setting the standard in Major League Baseball.”

That comment was made before the arrival of Boston’s current ownership group led by John Henry, Tom Werner and Larry Lucchino, and the Indians have since been far more deferential as the Red Sox renaissance has manifested itself.

“To do something like this in the business of outdoor sports is absolutely remarkable,” said Dennis Lehman, Indians executive vice president for business.

Beantown Bronco

09-04-2008, 10:05 AM

And now, for the other end of the spectrum:

MIAMI (AP)—Before the game even began, the Florida Marlins were guessing.

How many fans would show to watch two teams far out of first place on a weekday afternoon game with sweltering humidity and the heat topping 90 degrees?